Pedestrian traffic control device having tape below top of post

ABSTRACT

An ADA-compliant pedestrian traffic control device including a hollow, one piece post having an open upper end, and at least one slot in the post below the top of the post. A cassette is mounted within the post at the level of the slot. The cassette contains a tape wound on a spool, the spool being spring-biased to rotate in a direction which winds the tape on to the spool. The tape is extendable from the cassette in a direction generally perpendicular to the vertical axis of the post, the tape extending through the slot in the post. The diameter of the cassette, along its entire axial length, is smaller than the internal diameter of the post, so that the cassette can be inserted into the open upper end of the post and moved to its location between the ends of the post. The cassette is furnished with means for maintaining tension in the retractor spring prior to and during insertion of the cassette into the post, the tension-maintaining means being positioned substantially within the confines of the outer dimension of the cassette, so as not to interfere with insertion of the cassette into the post. After the free end of the tape of the cassette is manipulated outwardly through the slot in the post, a pull is attached to the free end of the tape, the pull being too large to fit through the slot and hence preventing full retraction of the tape into the cassette.

[0001] This invention relates to pedestrian traffic control barriers ofthe type including a vertical post, and a cassette mounted on the post,the cassette incorporating a flexible tape wound on a spool, the tapebeing extendable in a horizontal direction from the post. The tape isextended by pulling on its free end, causing the tape to unwind from aspool within the cassette against the force of a retractor springtending to rotate the spool so as to rewind the tape. The free end ofthe tape is attached to the upper end of another similar post, or insome cases to a fixed bracket on a wall, so as to establish the barrierfor guiding pedestrian traffic.

[0002] Typically, the cassette is mounted on the upper end of the post,which is usually about forty inches tall. However, under the Americanswith Disability Act (ADA), the tape extending from the posts ofpedestrian barriers of this type must be less than twenty seven inchesfrom the floor. At this lower height, the tape can be detected by thevisually impaired using a cane or guide dog.

[0003] It is undesirable, however, to make the posts this short (lessthan thirty inches tall) since at that height they are less noticeableby the general public, and hence are not as effective as a visualbarrier. In addition, since signs are often mounted on top of at leastsome of the posts, it is important for the posts to be tall enough sothat the signs they carry are readily observed without the need tocrouch.

[0004] It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide apedestrian traffic control device using relatively tall posts, butnevertheless complying with the Americans with Disability Act.

[0005] To accomplish this objective, a post is provided whichincorporates the cassette within the post at a location spaced below thetop of the post.

[0006] Apart from the ADA, in some cases, it is desirable to provide acassette at the top of the post, in a conventional manner, and a secondcassette, about midway between the upper and lower ends of the post, sothat a second tape can be drawn between the two posts, the two tapesbeing parallel to each other and one above the other. Such a double-tapepedestrian barrier offers a number of advantages, including extrasecurity to protect restricted areas and valuable displays, discouragingpeople from “ducking under” the barrier, helping to keep children inline, and providing added guidance for the visually impaired.

[0007] In the past, double-tape pedestrian traffic control devices havebeen assembled in a number of ways. One approach has been to employ atwo-piece post so that the lower cassette can be readily inserted intothe upper end of the lower section of the post, after which the twosections of the post are assembled and the second cassette mounted onthe upper end of the top section of the post. This approach isunsatisfactory because of the extra expense involved in time andmaterials when dealing with a two-piece post, not to mention theunattractive appearance of a two piece post as compared to a one-piecepost.

[0008] Another method which has been used to provide a second, lowertape involves use of a cassette provided with a generally semicircularbracket which fits on to the outer circular contour of a post and isfastened to the exterior of the post. This arrangement is unattractivebecause of the exposed bracket on the exterior of the post and the factthat the cassette projects from the post rather than being incorporatedwithin it.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide adouble-tape pedestrian traffic control device employing a one-piece postwhich incorporates the second, or lower, cassette within the post.

[0010] To accomplish this objective, it was necessary to overcomecertain problems. As a preliminary matter, it should be explained thatin the traditional cassette, mounted at the upper end of the post,tension is retained in the retractor spring even when the tape is fullywound on the spool. The reason is that it is desirable for the tape tobe strongly and completely pulled back into the cassette, when thebarrier is being rearranged, and if there is little or no tension in theretractor spring when the tape is fully wound, retraction of the tape,near the end of the retraction movement, will be sluggish.

[0011] In the conventional cassette mounted on the upper end of thepost, several narrow brackets parallel to the axis of the cassette arecarried by the cassette around its periphery. One of these brackets isformed with a narrow slot through which the tape passes. A pull isfastened to the free end of the tape, outwardly of the bracket, the pullbeing grasped by the fingers of the user in order to pull the tape fromthe cassette. The pull is wider than the slot in the bracket, and hencewhen the pull engages the bracket, further rotation of the spool by theretractor spring is terminated, even though the retractor spring remainstensioned.

[0012] It may also be mentioned that in the conventional cassette, theupper end of the cassette is usually larger than the internal diameterof the post. As a result, when the cassette is inserted into the upperend of the post, the upper end of the cassette engages the upper end ofthe post and limits the movement of that cassette into the post.

[0013] Thus, in order to incorporate a cassette into an ADA compliantpost, or a second cassette into the post about midway between the endsof the latter, the external diameter of the cassette along its entirelength must be smaller than the internal diameter of the post. Moreover,the brackets and pull normally preassembled with the cassette must notbe present, since these elements will prevent insertion of the lowercassette into the post. However, upon removal of the brackets and pull,there is nothing to prevent rotation of the tape spool by the retractorspring until the spring is completely untensioned, which as mentionedabove is an undesirable circumstance.

[0014] It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide anADA-compliant pedestrian barrier, or a double-tape pedestrian trafficbarrier in which a second, or lower, cassette is insertable into a postto a point between its ends, and yet in which tension is maintained inthe retractor spring even though the tape is fully wound on the cassettespool.

[0015] Additional objects and features of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, in which reference is made to theaccompanying drawings.

[0016] In the drawings:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double-tape pedestrian trafficcontrol device according to the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the upper end of a post shown inFIG. 1 and a conventional tape cassette mountable on the upper end ofthe post;

[0019]FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in cross-section, showinga post usable with the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG.3;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a cassetteaccording to the present invention located within a post;

[0022]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a cassetteaccording to the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lower end cap of a tape cassette,showing the retractor spring;

[0024]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cassette according to thepresent invention prior to insertion into a post;

[0025]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the tape of the lowercassette being pulled through a slot in the post and a slot in abracket, prior to mounting on the post;

[0026]FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the bracket mounted onthe post and a pull secured to the free end of the tape;

[0027]FIG. 11 is an elevational view illustrating the assembly of thepull with the free end of the tape;

[0028]FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the end of a tape extendingfrom one post (not shown) attached to a second post;

[0029]FIG. 13 is fragmentary perspective view illustrating an upstandingprojection on the upper end of the lower cassette and a tool cooperablewith the projection for lowering the cassette into a post andwithdrawing the cassette from the post;

[0030]FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing an alternativearrangement employing a clip; and

[0031]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an ADA-compliant pedestriantraffic control device according to the present invention.

[0032] A double-tape pedestrian traffic control device chosen toillustrate the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The device includestwo, spaced-apart upright posts 20 and 21, each mounted on a supportingbase 22. Each post 20 and 21 is hollow for all or most of its length. Atape-containing cassette 23 is accommodated within the open upper end ofpost 20, and a similar tape containing cassette 24 is accommodatedwithin the open upper end of post 21.

[0033] As will be described more fully below, each cassette 23 isprovided with four axially-extending exterior brackets 25 (only threesuch brackets being shown in FIG. 1), each bracket being formed withparallel undercut grooves along its sides. Similarly, cassette 24 isprovided with four brackets 26.

[0034] A flexible tape 27, made of any suitable material such as wovenfabric, is shown extending from cassette 23 to post 21, at which point apull 28 attached to the free end of tape 27 is secured to one of thebrackets 26 of cassette 24. The pull is formed with undercut ridgeswhich slidingly cooperate with the grooves in bracket 26 to secure theend of tape 27 to cassette 24, and thus prevent tape 27 from beingrewound into cassette 23.

[0035] A fragment of tape 29 is shown extended from cassette 24 towardanother upright post (not shown) so as to continue the traffic controlbarrier. Similarly, a fragment of tape 30 is shown extending to post 20from a previous post (not shown) in the series of posts, a pull 31 atthe end of tape 30 securing the tape to post 20. As many posts asnecessary are employed to provide the required length of barrier. Asthus far described, the traffic control device is conventional.

[0036] According to the present invention, a second cassette (not shown)is located within post 20 at a selected level beneath the top of thepost, such as about midway between the upper and lower ends of the post.At this point, the post is provided with a slot, and tape 32 is shownextending from the second, or lower, cassette to post 21. At this point,a pull 33 carried by the free end of tape 32 is used to secure the freeend of the tape to the bracket of a lower cassette (not shown) mountedwithin post 21. A fragment of tape 34 is shown extending from the lowercassette in post 21 toward another post (not shown). Also, a fragment ofa tape 35 is shown, this tape extending from the lower cassette of aprevious post (not shown) in the series of posts, the pull 36 at the endof tape 35 securing the tape to post 20.

[0037]FIG. 2. illustrates the conventional structure of the upper end ofa post, such as post 20, and the conventional upper cassette 23 adaptedto be accommodated within the upper end of the post. The upper end ofpost 20 is formed with four vertical slots 39 formed in the post at 90°intervals. Cassette 23 comprises upper end cap 40 and lower end cap 41which rotatably support between them a spool (not shown) upon which tape27 is wound. Within end cap 41 is a spiral retractor spring (not shown)tending to rotate the spool in a direction which winds tape 27 on to thespool. End caps 40 and 41 are held together by four brackets 25, spacedat 90° intervals around the cassette, one of the brackets 25 a beingformed with a narrow slot which permits tape 27 to freely pass throughit. Each bracket 25 is formed with two parallel undercut grooves 42. Thefree end of tape 27 carries a pull 28 which, because of its size, cannotfit through the slot in bracket 25 a. In this way, the retractor springis prevented from completely winding the free end of tape 27 on to thespool. The end face 28 a of pull 28 is formed with an undercut groovewhich can slidably cooperate with a bracket 26 (FIG. 1) so as to securethe pull and the free end of tape 27 to another post, e.g., post 21.

[0038] Cassette 23 is assembled with the upper end of post 20 by slidingthe cassette downwardly into the post, brackets 25 being accommodated byslots 39. Movement of the cassette into the post continues until theenlarged diameter top 40 a of end cap 40 engages the upper edge 20 a ofpost 20, thereby limiting further movement of cassette 23 into the post.Conventionally, screws are then fitted through holes 43 at the lowerends of brackets 25 and threaded into holes 44 in the post just beneathslots 39.

[0039] According to the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4, each post, e.g., 20, of the pedestrian traffic control device isformed with a slot 47 intermediate the upper and lower ends of the post,and preferably about midway between those two ends. Post 20 may beformed with four slots 47, each vertically aligned with one of the slots39 in the post. Typically, post 20 is closed at its lower end by a wall48 containing an internally threaded hole 49 which accommodates athreaded stud projecting upwardly from a base 22 (FIG. 1). It isconvenient to provide means for supporting the lower cassette withinpost 20 at the level of slots 47 until the cassette can be securelyfastened in place. One way of achieving this result is to provide a tube50 (FIGS. 3-5), which is dropped into tube 20 and rests upon bottom wall48. The tube may be formed of any suitable rigid material, such as aplastic or fibrous material, and has a length such that its upper end islocated at about or just below the level of the lower end of slots 47.

[0040] A lower cassette 53, according to the present invention, is shownin more detail in FIGS. 5-8. The cassette includes upper and lower endcaps 54 and 55, the lower end cap containing a spiral retractor spring56 and having a cover 55 a for enclosing the spring within the lower endcap. A spool 57 is rotatably supported between the end caps, the lowerend 57 a of the spool fitting snugly, but rotatably, through a hole 58in cover 55 a. The lower end 57 a of the spool has a diametrical slotwhich accommodates the end 56 a of spring 56. By virtue of thisinterconnection of spool and spring, when the spring 56 is tensioned, ittends to rotate the spool in a direction which winds tape 37 on to thespool. Lower end cap 55 has four threaded holes 59, used after thecassette is assembled with tube 20. The upper and lower end caps 54 and55, and hence the entire lower cassette assembly, are held together byat least one brace 60, formed of a suitable material such as sheetmetal, the upper and lower ends of brace 60 attaching to the upper andlower end caps 54 and 55, respectively. Preferably, two such braces 60are employed at approximately diametrically opposed locations around thecassette. The free end of 37 a of the tape is turned back upon itself,and stitched at 61 to form a channel 62 used to cooperate with pull 33,as will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 11.

[0041] The second or lower cassette 53 (FIGS. 5-8) differs from thefirst or upper cassette 23 (FIG. 2) in a number of significant respects.In general, cassette 53 has an outer diameter, along its entire axiallength, which is smaller than the internal diameter of post 20. Thus,for example, upper end cap 54 does not have an enlarged diameter top,such as the enlarged top 40 a of cassette 23. Therefore, no part of theupper end cap engages the top edge 20 a of post 20 to limit movement ofcassette 53 into the post.

[0042] In addition, end caps 54 and 55 of cassette 53 are notpreassembled with brackets 25, which normally interconnect end caps 40and 41 of cassette 23 and hold the cassette together as a unit. Instead,cassette 53 employs thin braces 60 to hold the cassette assemblytogether, and the braces 60 do not project outwardly beyond thegenerally cylindrical contour of the cassette.

[0043] Moreover, in the case of upper cassette 23, pull 28 ispreassembled with the free end of tape 27, and therefore the pull servesthe purpose of limiting the rewinding movement of the tape on to thespool by engagement of pull 28 with bracket 25 a. In this way, tensionis maintained in the retractor spring even when the tape issubstantially fully wound on the spool.

[0044] In the case of cassette 53, pull 33 cannot be preassembled withthe free end 37 a of tape 37, since presence of the pull would preventinsertion of cassette 53 into tube 20 to its desired location at thelevel of slots 47. Therefore, the present invention provides othermeans, as illustrated in FIG. 8, for maintaining tension in retractorspring 56 when tape 37 is substantially completely wound on the spool.

[0045]FIG. 8 illustrates one way, according to the invention, ofmaintaining some tension in the retractor spring when the tape issubstantially fully wound on the spool. At least one of the braces 60 isprovided with a slot 65 near one of its longitudinal edges so as todefine an axially-extending narrow finger 66. Free end 37 a of tape 37is slipped over the finger so that finger 66 is accommodated withinchannel 62.

[0046] In this condition (FIG. 8), cassette 53 is inserted into post 20and comes to rest on the upper edge of tube 50. Free end 37 a of tape 37is slipped off finger 66, this being possible because the finger isflexible, and the tape free end is manipulated through one of the slots47 in post 20 (FIGS. 9 and 10). The free end 37 a of tape 37 is thenslipped through a slot in a bracket 67 a, similar to the bracket 25 a ofcassette 23, after which pull 33 is attached to the free end of the tape(FIG. 10). Then, each bracket 67 is secured in place by a screw 70 (FIG.5) which passes through a hole 68 in the bracket, a hole 69 in the post,and is threaded into a hole 59 in the lower end cap 55 of cassette 53.In this way, the brackets securely hold cassette 53 within post 20.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 11, pull 33 may be secured to the free end 37 aof tape 37 in a conventional manner. The free end of the tape isinserted into a hollowed-out portion of pull 33, after which a pin 73 isinserted into channel 62 at the free end of the tape until the head 74of the pin snaps into a receptacle 75 in the pull.

[0048] It is thought desirable to provide an aid for inserting the lowercassette into post 20 and lifting it out of the post, should it needreplacement or repair. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 13, the topwall 54′ of lower cassette 53′ may be formed with a T-shaped projection78. A tool is provided comprising a rod 79 having a handle 80 at one endand a fitting 81 at its other end having a T-shaped slot. When needed,the upper cassette is removed from the post, rod 79 is inserted into thepost, using handle 80, and fitting 81 is slipped over projection 78, sothat the tool can then be used to lift cassette 53′ out of the post. Toinsert a new cassette into the post, the procedure described above isreversed.

[0049]FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative way of preserving tension inthe retractor spring prior to and during insertion of lower cassette 53″into tube 20. In this case, brace 60″ is not formed with a finger 66.Instead, a generally oval clip 83 is provided, the clip havingoverlapped end regions 83 a and 83 b. One end region 83 a is insertedinto channel 62″ at the free end of tape 37″. The end region 83 b ofclip 83 is fitted over an edge of brace 60″ so as to lock the free endof tape 37″ to brace 60″.

[0050] After cassette 53″ has been located within post 20, clip 83 isdisengaged from brace 60″ and pulled through one of the slots 47 in thepost, bringing the free end of tape 37″ with it. Then, as describedabove, bracket 67 a and pull 33 are assembled with the tape.

[0051] Thus, it will be appreciated that the present invention providesa double-tape pedestrian traffic control device which utilizes a onepiece post, and yet provides for the second or lower cassette beingwholly accommodated within the post.

[0052] A pedestrian traffic control device which complies with theAmericans with Disability Act is illustrated in FIG. 15. In thisembodiment, two spaced-apart upright posts 120 and 121 are mounted onsupport bases 122. The posts are comparable to posts 20 and 21 describedabove, although they may be slightly shorter, say, thirty-six incheshigh. The posts are initially open at their upper ends, but in use areclosed by caps 123 and 124 and do not accommodate cassettes similar tocassettes 23 and 24 within their upper ends.

[0053] A cassette (not shown), corresponding in all respects to cassette53 described above, is carried within each post 120 and 121, eachcassette being located below the top of its perspective post.

[0054] At this point, each post is provided with a slot, and tape 132 isshown extending from the cassette in post 120 to post 121. At thispoint, a pull 133 carried by the free end of tape 132 is used to securethe free end of the tape to the bracket of a cassette (not shown)mounted within post 121. A fragment of tape 134 is shown extending fromthe cassette in post 121 toward another post (not shown). Also, afragment of a tape 135 is shown, this tape extending from the cassetteof a previous post (not shown) in the series of posts, the pull 136 atthe end of tape 135 securing the tape to post 120.

[0055] The cassettes are so arranged within the posts that the loweredges of tapes 132, 134, and 135 are located less than twenty seveninches above the floor supporting bases 122. The cassettes, associatedbrackets and hardware, and slots in the posts, may all be as describedabove with respect to cassette 53. Moreover, if desired, a tubecorresponding to tube 50 may be employed while assembling each cassettewith its respective post. In all respects, the assembly of the cassettewithin each post 120 and 121 is accomplished as described above inconnection with the assembly of cassette 53 within post 20.

[0056] If desired, a sign holder 190 may be mounted on the top ofselected posts, e.g., post 120, the holder carrying a sign 191 givingpedestrians appropriate information such as “Enter Here”.

[0057] The invention has been shown and described in preferred formonly, and by way of example, and many variations may be made in theinvention which will still be comprised within its spirit. It isunderstood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specificform or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are included inthe appended claims.

1. A pedestrian traffic control device, comprising: a hollow upright,one piece, post having an open upper end and a lower end, at least oneslot in the post between its ends, the slot being spaced from both endsof the post, a cassette located within the post and between its ends,the cassette incorporating a tape wound on a spool, the tape beingextendable from the cassette, through the slot in the post, in adirection generally perpendicular to the axis of the post, and means forholding the cassette within the post.
 2. A pedestrian traffic controldevice as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of thecassette, along its entire axial length, is smaller than the internaldiameter of the post, so that the cassette can be inserted into the openupper end of the post and moved to its location between the ends of thepost.
 3. A pedestrian traffic control device as defined in claim 1,wherein the cassette is held within the post at a position such that thelower edge of the tape, when extended, is less than twenty seven inchesabove the floor supporting the post.
 4. A pedestrian traffic controldevice as defined in claim 1 including means for supporting the cassettewithin the post in the region of the slot in the post.
 5. A pedestriantraffic control device as defined in claim 4 wherein the support meansincludes a tube within the post having an upper end in the region of thelower end of slot in the post, the cassette being seated upon the upperend of the tube.
 6. A pedestrian traffic control device as defined inclaim 1 wherein no tape-holding cassette occupies the upper end of thepost.
 7. A method of assembling a pedestrian traffic control device, thedevice including a hollow post having an open upper end and a slotbetween and spaced from the post ends, and a cassette incorporating aspool on which a tape is completely wound, the free end of the tapebeing exposed, the method including the steps of: inserting the cassetteinto the open end of the post, maneuvering the cassette along the lengthof the post until the free end of the tape is accessible through theslot in the post, pulling the free end of the tape through the slot, andattaching a finger pull to the free end of the tape exposed outside thepost, the pull being sized large enough so that the free end of thetape, with pull attached, cannot be retracted into the post through theslot.
 8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein the tape-carrying spoolis spring based in a direction tending to wind the tape on the spool, sothat pulling the free end of the tape through the post slot adds tensionto the spring.